‘Talks cannot stop Manipur crisis, it’s between external aggressor Kuki narco-terrorists and state government’

Imphal: Committee on Manipur Integrity (Cocomi), a conglomerate body of civill society organisations, does not believe in solving the over a year long Manipur crisis by holding talks between Kuki and Meitei communities.

The crisis is between Kuki narco-terrorists and the Government of Manipur,  however, the narco-terrorists are targeting the Meitei populace to make Manipur government feel the pulse, said Cocomi spokesperson Khuraijam Athouba on Tuesday while interacting with a group of reporters during the observation of 23rd Great June Uprising, Unity Day at Kekrupat, here.

Athoiba was reacting to Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s statement that the central government will try to bring back peace in Manipur by sitting together with the Kukis and Meiteis.

Amit Shah made the statement during a high-level meeting on the security situation in Manipur conducted on Monday, in New Delhi.

Amit Shah stressed on strategic deployment of central forces to restore peace and tranquility in Manipur, and said forces will be increased if required. He directed to take strict legal action against those who indulge in violence.

Athouba said it seems like the Union Home Minister is trying to evade the core issue of the ongoing year-long crisis in Manipur. “Sitting between Kukis and Meiteis might not bring back peace in Manipur.”

Manipur chief minister N. Biren Singh says, Kuki started attacking Meitei after government launched destruction of poppy cultivation, eviction of illegal construction in reserved forest area and identification of illegal immigrants.

President of the All Manipur United Clubs Organisation (Amuco), Nando Luwang said the ongoing crisis in Manipur is instigated by external aggression and cannot be termed as Ethnic Violence.

Amit Shah, during the Modi 2.0 government, made a statement on the Parliamentary floor that the ongoing conflict in Manipur is instigated by external aggression.

Will the central government will remain a silent spectator when terrorists from Pakistan attack Kashmir? The Manipur issue is not new to the Union Home minister and other administrative officers present at the high-level meeting. Such meetings need to be conducted after checking the ground reality of the conflict, said Nando.

The Great June Uprising is observed in commemoration of the 18 Martyrs who lost their lives agitating for the cause of the territorial integrity of Manipur.

People from different walks of life joined the observation paying rich tribute to the martyrs.